Facebook dispute teachers to appear in court

The headteacher of Westcott Primary School, Debbie Johnson, and teacher Nyanza Roberts stood down last year after an investigation into remarks branding locals “thick” and “inbred” on Facebook concluded.

The pair have been charged under the Communications Act 2003, with persistently making use of a public communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety.

They will appear at Hull Magistrates’ Court later this month.

Earlier this year, Humberside Police said their arrests related “to a report of a malicious communication received by a woman in the Bilton area of Hull in January 2012”.

The two teachers made headlines last autumn after print-outs of the Facebook conversation appeared on lampposts and were put through letterboxes.

Miss Roberts was the first to be suspended after branding locals “thick” and “inbred” in the conversation, which involved Ms Johnson and other staff.

In a letter to parents last December explaining the pair’s departure, Mary Wallace, the chair of governors, said details of the investigation would remain “confidential for legal reasons”.

No further action was taken against the other teachers involved.

Ms Wallace continued: “However I am able to inform you Ms Johnson and Miss Roberts have decided to relinquish their posts at Westcott Primary School from December 2011 and will pursue other opportunities.

“For the other members of staff involved in this matter, this has now been concluded under the school’s disciplinary procedure.”

In a statement, Humberside Police said: “A 48-year-old Hull woman and a 25-year-old Hull woman have been charged with persistently making use of a public communication network to cause annoyance/inconvenience/anxiety.”

It said both women had been released on bail to appear before magistrates in Hull on June 28.